The Ruling on Seeking the Night of Ashura
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Question: Many Muslims fast the Day of Ashura and take an interest in fasting it because of what they hear from preachers encouraging and exhorting them to do so. So why are people not directed to seek the new moon of Muharram so that Muslims know of it after it is broadcast or published in the media?
Answer: Fasting the Day of Ashura is a recommended practice (sunnah) whose performance is recommended (mustahabb); the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) fasted it, the Companions fasted it, and Musa fasted it before them as thanks to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He); and because it is the day on which Allah saved Musa and his people and destroyed Pharaoh and his people, so Musa and the Children of Israel fasted it as thanks to Him (Glorified and Exalted is He), and then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) fasted it as thanks to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and following the example of the Prophet of Allah, Musa. The people of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance (jahiliyyah) also used to fast it, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) emphasized it for the community. When Allah made Ramadan obligatory, he said:Sahih Muslim 1125a And he (peace and blessings be upon him) informed that its fasting expiates the year before it.
It is better to fast a day before it or a day after it, differing from the Jews; for it was reported from him (peace and blessings be upon him):Bulugh al-Maram 5:41, and in another wording: So if one fasts a day before it or a day after it, or fasts the day before it and the day after it, meaning he fasts three days, all of that is good. And in it is differing from the enemies of Allah, the Jews.
As for seeking the Night of Ashura, this is not a necessary matter; because it is a voluntary act, not an obligation, so it is not necessary to call for seeking the new moon; because if a believer misses it and fasts a day after it and a day before it, that does not harm him, and he is upon a great reward. For this reason, it is not obligatory to pay attention to the entry of the month for that sake; because it is only a voluntary act.
Answer: Fasting the Day of Ashura is a recommended practice (sunnah) whose performance is recommended (mustahabb); the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) fasted it, the Companions fasted it, and Musa fasted it before them as thanks to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He); and because it is the day on which Allah saved Musa and his people and destroyed Pharaoh and his people, so Musa and the Children of Israel fasted it as thanks to Him (Glorified and Exalted is He), and then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) fasted it as thanks to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and following the example of the Prophet of Allah, Musa. The people of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance (jahiliyyah) also used to fast it, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) emphasized it for the community. When Allah made Ramadan obligatory, he said:
He who wishes to observe this fast may do so, and he who wishes to abandon it may do so.
من شاء صامه ومن شاء تركهIt is better to fast a day before it or a day after it, differing from the Jews; for it was reported from him (peace and blessings be upon him):
fasts together with the day before or the day after
صوموا يومًا قبله أو يومًا بعدهFast a day before it and a day after it.
صوموا يومًا قبله ويومًا بعدهAs for seeking the Night of Ashura, this is not a necessary matter; because it is a voluntary act, not an obligation, so it is not necessary to call for seeking the new moon; because if a believer misses it and fasts a day after it and a day before it, that does not harm him, and he is upon a great reward. For this reason, it is not obligatory to pay attention to the entry of the month for that sake; because it is only a voluntary act.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.